In the latest instalment of our Meet the Ally series, we sit down with Advisory Partner Laurence Fishman.
Working predominantly with entrepreneurs and founders of fast-growing businesses, Laurence brings experience from across almost every stage of the business lifecycle. But for him, being a trusted adviser goes far beyond the numbers.
We caught up with Laurence Fishman to find out more about his approach to working with clients, what has shaped the way he thinks about business, and what he’s learned from a career spent helping businesses grow, adapt and navigate some of their biggest challenges.
Tell us a little about what you do at NLP and the clients you typically work with.
I’m an advisory Partner at NLP. The majority of the people I advise are entrepreneurs and founders who are scaling quickly.
I love that environment because my role is so much bigger than just being the “numbers guy”. I am a sounding board. A strategist. A trusted advisor. And in lots of cases, a friend!
What’s one question you find yourself being asked by clients again and again?
“How’s everyone else in our industry doing?” My answer tends to be the same every time.
The businesses that win aren’t obsessing over what anyone else is doing. They’re obsessing over how they can keep improving, adapting and evolving faster than the market around them.
What’s something you wish more clients knew about your area of expertise?
Most of my clients will already know exactly who I am – an open book. Right out the gate, I want clients to understand how I think, make decisions and navigate challenges just as much as I want to understand them, their ambitions and what drives them. That said, if that question is asked of those watching on from the shadows, it’s this… I’ve been fortunate to have built a career that has spanned almost every stage of the business lifecycle.
From helping launch a successful start-up straight out of University (not accountancy!), to managing and growing relationships with large and complex international audit clients. I’ve restructured groups, worked on the turnarounds of household-name businesses, supported teams on high-profile administrations. I have consulted and advised leadership teams on corporate strategy, and helped clients exit for more money than I will ever see!
I’ve seen first-hand how businesses grow, struggle, adapt, transform and create value under pressure. And that means I have developed an instinct that many in my arena won’t have. I don’t see myself as just an accountant… I’m a corporate wingman. A “fixer”. The kind of person my clients seem to want in the room with them when the stakes get high!
What’s something your NLP colleagues would immediately associate with you?
Relentless energy. Relentless curiosity. Relentless ambition. Relentless drive.
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you Laurence?
I’m fascinated by, and have spent years studying, the psychology of business. Motivations, decision-making, behaviours, relationships, strategy, influence, and performance. From EVERY angle I could find. It began as an interest in my 20’s but became something of an obsession, leading me to explore ideas and disciplines far beyond traditional business thinking (…think ancient China and the art of warfare!). That breadth and depth of study has shaped how I see the world. It honed the way I lead, build teams, and influence outcomes. More than any qualification or technical skill, it’s probably been the biggest contributor to both my personal growth and the success I’ve achieved throughout my career.